Serious charges levelled against Karnataka judge

A major controversy has erupted in Karnataka's legal fraternity after the Forum for Judicial Accountability leveled serious allegations against state Chief Justice P D Dinakaran.

The Forum consists of eminent lawyers from Chennai who work for judicial accountability.

Senior Supreme Court advocates Fali S Nariman and Shanti Bhushan have filed a representation to the Chief Justice of India on the FJA's behalf, in which they listed various properties allegedly owned by Justice Dinakaran.

Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan is said to have called Justice Dinakaran to discuss the matter.

The Karnataka Bar, comprising the Advocates Association and the Karnataka Bar Council, has convened emergency meetings to discuss the issue.

Putte Gowda, president of the Advocates Association in Bengaluru, told rediff.com that members of the 20,000-strong association had requested that a meeting be held immediately to discuss the issue and decide on the next course of action.

Gowda refused to disclose the exact agenda of the meeting, but added that a resolution will be passed by the association.

The Karnataka Bar Council has also decided to hold a meeting to discuss the issue.

"I have urged members of the Karnataka Bar Council to call a meeting immediately to discuss the issue. During the meeting, we plan to pass a resolution asking the Karnataka chief justice not to conduct any cases in view of the allegations made against him. We will demand that he resign on moral grounds," said Sadashiva Reddy, former chairman, Karnataka Bar Council.